No advise, but what is the last sate you have on your list?

Last year we went to Glacier in early-mid-June. Part of the Road to the Sun was still closed due to snow/ice so we stayed mostly on the west side. We had reservations at Lake MacDonald Lodge in a cabin for 3 nights and it was wonderful. We did drive the long route to the east side and drove as far as wel could on the road in the park and did some hiking. We also did the boat ride the first evening on Lake Macdonald, which I do recommend. Then we stayed in Whitefish a couple of nights and in Kalispell before flying home. Both are a very short drive to the park entrance. We only had a little less than a week because I was getting ready to retire. So we already have plans to go back this year and concentrate on the east side.

Is the Canadian town Watertown? That is the Canadian part of Glacier. We already have reservations and are going out at the end of June. It will be more crowded, but I guess we don’t have much choice. Other times later in summer are even worse from what we hear.

There are other parts of Montana’s have been to but most are just to drive through and maybe stay a day or two. The Bear Tooth Highway starts just outside Red Lodge in SW MT and goes all the way to Cooke City at the NE entrance to Yellowstone. You don’t have to drive all the way to Cooke City but it is a neat town and so is Red Lodge. There is a place to stop and get gas and souvenirs about halfway. It can still get snow, even in summer so check the weather if you decide to do it.

In the SE corner is Little Bighorn National Battlefield. Very beautiful and a good bus tour if you are interested in traveling down that way. It’s about an hour or so from Billings.

We have mostly driven through Idaho, but I do recommend a stopover in Coeur d’Alene. It’s a beautiful town on a lake and you can wander around the park and downtown in the evening.

BTW Annie, I wanted to get some advice from you on places you might have stayed in/around Custer State Park last year. We are driving out this time and plan to stay a little longer seeing some of the things we missed last time. It’s been a few years since we went. You can message me separately.

ETA, unless you plan to also spend time in Washington, you can fly directly into Kalispell from SLC.

I second Coeur d'Alene in Idaho and Banff and maybe Jasper in the trip to Glacier. Lake Louise is gorgeous. That is my favorite park of all time.

Thanks, Jim. We've been up north to jasper, etc already and hadn't planned on going that far...beautiful though it is. I've pinged the gal who told me about the town so hopefully I'll hear from her when she gets a chance to fill me in.

eld, the only state left after these will be New Mexico, which we are also looking forward to... I have to see the million bats flying out of the caverns...bat lover that I am!

OP, thanks for all the info...that's perfect... just what I'm looking for. I think we'll fly RT to spokane at this point as it gets us through both states and it's not far from glacier. But that's subject to change...thanks for the heads up.

I've shared the itinerary for our ND/SD trip here so you can see where we stayed and what we did...hope that helps.

Coeur d'Alene has definitely been added to the list, thanks OP & murraysmom!

Annie, thanks for posting the link to your previous discussion. In the changeover to ‘saved’ threads vs bookmarks, I lost this. I was fairly certain I had saved it, knowing we were planning to go back.

It’s always tough to decide where to fly to. There’s always Bozeman too, and Billings. Some of these might be more accessible (fewer stops) and more reasonable. I always check anyway.

Lots of people love Kelowna BC which is 5 hrs N of Spokane...also Nelson
- 3 hrs N of Spokane is a fun little town; maybe one of those is the
one recommended? Beautiful drives to both.

I love Nelson website

Thanks Olychick...it was Nelson that my friend had mentioned. She's also suggested taking the Kootenay Bay Ferry.

Annie something to note for your New Mexico trip is what is called the High Road Tour. Normally middle two weekends in September. From Santa Fe to Taos with lots of studios to stop at. Interesting views. Hard to find lodging those weekends.

Thanks maifleur...we'll keep that in mind for when we head that way.

I have only been on this forum today for a question- was unaware it was so diverse! Love all the fun pics and of course scenery! I underdtand you are going to visit Montana. Good choice. I just left Cody Wy recently to Florida due to an injury. Miss it terribly! Also worked at Crow Hospital (RN) when working for Federal Gov't Bureau of Indian Affairs. Little Big Horn is 2 miles south of the hospital. Billings is 45 minutes north. If you go in summer it may be 90 plus degrees at 6,000 feet but the Sun highway will find you with 10 feet of snow along the road. Evenings/nights can be 'cold'. Bring some warm clothes. Same with Top of The World which is between Red Lodge and Cody. Billings is just any ole' town. Nothing special at all. Depending how glamorous you want your lodging to be or if average yet clean is ok you should be fine in most of Montana but closer you are to Yellowstone (any entrance) you will need reservations unless you go after Labor Day-if traveling in an RV you must have reservations- many places in and out of the park are booked a year in advance. Kiss the ground for me please! The biggest bat cave in the world is just north of San Antonio Tx. (Lived there also in winter.) Best season for watching bats is springtime until month of September. Take a small jar of Vicks to put a SMALL dab under your nose if the smell makes you gag. Or a hankerchief damp with Listerine to hold against your nose. Much type of rock layers to look at in that area also but nothing like the Rockies. If you love nature you will love Montana/Wyoming! AND.... do NOT try to get close up pictures of large wildlife. Be prepared if hiking. Be prepared when the large animals are seemingly quiet as your houdecat on a sofa- they can have 'attitude' and sre amazingly fast. These animals, particularly Grizzly (brown bear) elk, moose and bison can and have seriously hurt foolish people. You are in their home, not a zoo. Take lots of pictures. You truly are in God's country.